Arhfan Arif, 33, of Maidstone Street, crashed car then fell on ice as he fled police

A drug dealer’s “lunatic” driving in a police chase came to an abrupt end when he skidded into a pile of snow, Bradford Crown Court heard.

Arhfan Arif then slipped on a sheet of ice and fell while running off, prosecutor Paul Nicholson said.

Arif, 33, of Maidstone Street, Bradford Moor, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and driving while disqualified on March 26 and to possession of heroin and crack cocaine with intent to supply on the same date. The court heard it was his sixth conviction for driving while disqualified.

They pursued him at speed down the Shipley-Airedale Road where he jumped another red light on to Leeds Road. Other drivers swerved to avoid him as he drove at double the speed limit, weaving in and out of the traffic.

Arif span out of control on Thornbury Street, Laisterdyke. His car mounted the kerb and came to rest in a pile of snow. Mr Nicholson said Arif revved the engine and span the wheels but could not free it.

He ran off but was arrested when he tumbled over on ice.

The car chase covered more than five miles and lasted about six minutes.

Arif had £260 cash on him and 124 wraps of heroin and crack cocaine with a street value of more than £800.

In mitigation, Alexander Leach said Arif was very ill and had learning difficulties. He was naive and had been exploited by greedy people in his peer group. Mr Leach said Arif had several life-threatening illnesses and was on dialysis three times a week.

“His health is extremely poor and he has been exploited by others,” he said. He urged Judge Colin Burn to spare Arif a prison sentence.

Judge Burn said Arif “drove like a lunatic” with Class A drugs in his car.

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But his health was extremely poor and sending him to jail would cause major problems for the prison authorities.

Arif was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment, suspended for two years, with a six-month curfew order. He was banned from driving for two years.

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